Tag: flowers

Seek!

Look for God in things both large and small. Pursue a relationship with Him like none other!

God has the solution to our problem before we ever perceive the problem.  In Him we can find peace, strength, love, or whatever we may be searching for.

We just have to ask Him. Then trust Him. Submit to Him.

God wants to provide for His children. He delights in a relationship with us. He knows our every need and how to supply it.

We don’t have to worry. We can worship instead.

Now how cool is that?

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 NKJV

 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Matthew 6:31-33 NKJV 

 

What Are You Thirsty For?

“but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:14 NKJV

I once read an article that suggested when people choose to eat something to satisfy hunger, the body probably isn’t hungry but actually thirsty.

This article went on to explain that we don’t always recognize the need for water in our body. The brain will send us the correct message, yet through habit or conditioning we often confuse it for hunger.  It suggested when we fail to give the body what it needs to satisfying that thirst, we will continue to snack and munch until we eventually consume something to drink.

When we are in need for one thing, we often in our fallible human tendencies try to satisfy it with the wrong thing.

Many situations we find ourselves in stem from seeking a replacement for the “thing” we need and find lacking. There are people in abusive or toxic relationships trying to find the “love” that was deficient in their past. Others who seek “acceptance” will work themselves to death trying to earn money or status they perceive will bring it to them.

Everyone has a different “thing” that can holds them hostage and has the potential to lead to poor choices, isolation and feeling of incompetence.

Many addictions stem from the need to fill a void. Alcohol and drugs are common culprits. But our society allows more “acceptable” addictions such as workaholics, social media mania, and even religion!

Thankfully we have a God Who desires a relationship with us, Who loves us enough to build us up when we are down, and gives us His strength in our weakness. God knows what we lack and how to fill any void we may have. Truthfully, only He can take us from wandering our own personal deserts and lead us into our promised land.

If you have tried everything you can think of such as pleasing people, running after the “right” crowd or perhaps even traveling a darker road to fill a void that persists…

Try God.  dew new rose

When we take just one step toward Him, God extends His love and care for us in some of the most unorthodox ways. The more we seek God, the more He reveals Himself. Sometimes we need only acknowledge God and His grace and mercy will abound!

The great thing about God is that you don’t have to “earn” His approval. Or His acceptance. Or His grace.

It’s free. The price on Calvary has already been paid. All you have to do is accept it.

Why not accept a gift that is truly valuable beyond measure? God offers fulfillment, abundance, love and whatever we may lack to not only fill but satisfy.

“But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”  

God satisfies that we don’t have to turn to outside sources for validation or affirmation. He fills us up from the inside; He can quench our thirst from now until eternity. Even when we don’t know what we need.

But God knows.

He knows and is more than able to provide for His children. He provides us with what we need. When we allow Him.

The choice is ours.

What are you thirsty for?

 

Watchful!

“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.” 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NKJV

“You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others [do], but let us watch and be sober.” 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6 

“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak.” Mark 14:38 NKJV

New Every Morning!

This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the LORD’S mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.  “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”  The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him.  Lamentations 3:21-25 NKJV

God is forever making things new. New seasons. New revelation. New possibilities.

We should follow our Father’s example and move into the new things He would do with us. It is possible to free yourself from the grasp of your past without losing those lessons learned. Our past actually supports us when we gain knowledge from our experiences without allowing ourselves to become trapped by them. 

Like the hydrangea, our past makes our future possible. We don’t gain wisdom and experience without going through some “stuff.”  Those blooms wouldn’t be possible if I’d cut the old ugly wood off in the winter. The barren and ugly stems that survived the harsh cold are necessary for the plant to bloom.  DSC_0638 (2)

We would miss out on some of the beauty in our lives if God readily cut away those things (situations, experiences, trials) about ourselves that are sometimes “ugly and unattractive.”  Because our God is merciful and His faithfulness endures, He doesn’t allow our “ugly” to consume us. Instead, He allows it to build us into better people. Usable people who eventually fulfill our purpose and bloom.

Our transitions from old into new require that we seek and serve the God who can make us new. Many of us  propose to seek God. But are we really willing to serve Him? Turn ourselves over to Him?

God can renew our minds, hearts, spirit or whatever we have that is in need of fresh blooms. We must seek Him and often wait on Him, but to those who hope and wait on the Lord faith is rewarded.

If yesterday has you looking back and you find yourself feeling stuck or trapped, look UP instead.  Allow God to transform you into something new.

“A Song of Ascents. I will lift up my eyes to the hills–From whence comes my help? My help comes form the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”
Psalm 121:1-2 NKJV

 

 

Abide in The Light

“Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.

He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.

He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.

But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”  1 John 2: 8-11 NKJV

He Makes All Things New…

“Therefore, if anyone [is] in Christ, [he is] a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new,” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26 NKJV

 There are times in life when we can all use something new. The trials of life can leave us thirsty for the renewing Spirit of God to come upon us, change us and often deliver us even from ourselves.

There is a tendency for regret, old ideas and misconceptions to prevent us for seeing with spiritual eyes the new things that God would do with us and often through us in what we usually perceive as ordinary and mundane lives. Sometimes we are so busy reminiscing about what was, we blind ourselves to the potential of what can be.

Thankfully, God can replace our old opinions, biases and lingering doubts with inspiration and revelation. The seed of a dream we may have forgotten or deliberately buried, God can resurrect into something beautiful.  new buds

Often the key to receiving the transformation we desire is a willingness to change. God can do the impossible with us, yet often that first step toward a new beginning is recognizing when what once worked, no longer works! We often linger in dead religious acts that are void of His presence or even dead relationships when the anointing of God has long moved on.

The birth of a “new you” usually requires death to the very things that hold you back. Bad habits, wrong mindsets and negative influences allow us to remain comfortably where we are instead of moving forward with God.

Receiving a new heart and a new spirit requires that we bury those things that harden our hearts. Fear, regret and anger are a few things that keep us from experiencing God’s best. It’s not that we earn our blessings but we most certainly can block them with our very thoughts and deeds.

A hard heart is rarely kind. A bitter or envious spirit seeks to take, not give to others. We all have qualities that we could do without, things we need to improve and remove. What we are unable to accomplish in our own strength, Christ is more than able!

Just as putting on new clothes gives many people a renewed sense of self by changing the outward appearance, God can do so much more on the inside which enables us to make a real difference in our daily interactions with other people.

Seeking God’s Word and His wisdom changes us on the inside and outside. This not only blesses us, but prepares us to bless other people.  DSC_9938 (2)

If you are seeking a change in your life, feel “stuck” where you are or your faith has faded, try God!

Renew your relationship with Him.  He will reveal more of Himself to you. He will also reveal more of you to you! Seeking God’s Word and His wisdom allows us to find our true selves.

It’s not what we see in the mirror. It is not what others say about us. The titles we may hold, jobs we do, accolades and accomplishments eventually fade away. But with God, we can continually die to our old selves and be transformed into the people He created us to be.

And what could be better than that?

“and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4 23-24 NKJV

Goal Oriented!

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.” Philippians 3 13-15 NKJV

Everything Has a Purpose!

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to [His] purpose,” Romans 8:28 NKJV

I was walking toward the front of my house this morning when this visitor caught me by surprise. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t doubt there are snakes around my house. They are pretty common here in Georgia. However, I don’t usually see one lying about so casually in the middle of the day all out in the open. Where is a hawk when you need one!

My oldest son came downstairs as I was going to get a can of hornet spray (crazy, I know) and try to kill it shoo it away. Cam wants to become a vet so his first response was “let me see it!” So we stepped outside the front door and sure enough the snake is still there. It had not moved. One inch.

As I’m clinging to the can of Raid, Cam looks at me and says, “You shouldn’t kill it. They eat rats. Don’t kill it just to kill it.”

I’m proud of him yet annoyed that of all the things I’ve taught him, he chooses to remember that one tidbit as I’m thinking to myself where is that shovel?

We look a bit closer and the snake apparently has just swallowed something.

This black racer or king snake or whatever it is reminded me that the things we often like the least in life serve a valuable purpose. Some of the very hardships we would choose to do without teach us the most. It is often the painful, ugly and difficult experiences that make us better people.

For some of us it takes an illness to find out how strong we really are. Disappointment teaches us humility. Compassion is often a byproduct of pain. God often allows the “ugly” people and circumstances in our lives to bring about a better outcome. We just have to look and think beyond what we see to how God can use it.  DSC_9534 (2)

Some people now working in their “dream jobs” never would if they hadn’t  first gotten fired elsewhere. Our enemies can often push us toward our Savior and His blessings when nothing else will do it! Sometimes the very things in life that seem to push us down actually propel us forward.

Then there are other times when a frustrating inconvenience later turns out to be life-saver. The flat tire you discover before work spares you from a fatal accident. Running late because of your kids keeps you out of harm’s way. The car that was sold out from under you later turns out to be a “lemon.”

We don’t always have to understand how or why? Trusting God is enough.

Sometimes the best route is not the most direct route. Our God knows what we need and when to get us where He wants us to go. His provision in Biblical times was often unconventional and miraculous. It is no less so, today.

So, if you are plagued with doubts or a situation looks hopeless, turn to God and trust Him. God can do the impossible!

He’s just going to do it His way.

What’s in Your Garden?

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV

God was with Adam and Eve in Eden. Likewise, God is with me in my garden. Our Father reveals His beauty beneath the endless sky. Yet, if my earthly garden is going to grow, it requires a lot of work! My spiritual growth demands the same effort as well.  

One lesson I learned from Adam and Eve is to keep snakes out of my garden. I’ve thrown moth balls, sprayed repellent and sprinkled granules enough for the entire block! But what about those “snakes” that aren’t tangible. Temptation? Envy? Greed? Apathy?

I must exert the same degree of effort spiritually to keep “snakes” from sneaking into my space. Or at the very least, kill them while they are young. It’s relatively easy to kill a baby. Something several feet long is altogether different!

Some snakes are discreet, and blend in with our surroundings. Others are colorful and easier to notice. Some are just irritants. Others are deadly. It is up to each of us to guard our personal gardens from “snakes” that deceive. I’m pretty particular about what I want in my garden. For my safety and that of my family, I must also be diligent about what I  keep out!  DSC_7170 (2)

When I neglect my garden it is soon overrun with weeds! I am amazed at how a weed can grow through concrete but the seeds I want to grow must be guarded and nurtured. The junk in life comes to us far easier than anything of value. We can allow this same junk to overrun us if we aren’t careful. When we should be plucking up what doesn’t belong, we can easily find ourselves distracted by people and things that eat up precious time. Too much social media anyone? Internet surfing?

Neglect can leave you with a mess. It is a major cause of broken relationships. Marriages suffer when spouses don’t make each other a priority. Children are hurt when they watch parents give valuable time to other people and interests, leaving them with only the scraps that remain.

It requires time to nurture what I want to grow. I spend hours watering and fertilizing what I want to bloom and remain. I am a huge fan of Miracle-Gro because I get better results when I use it. Likewise, I do better when I read my “miracle grow” which is God’s Word.

Scripture gives me faith to stand tall during adversity and persist through my trials. God’s promises give me clarity to recognize potential “snakes.” Reading what God did reminds me of what He can do!

Miracle-Gro works great, but you have to apply it often. You can’t just use it once and be done. God’s Word is effective when we continually immerse ourselves in it and allow scripture to dictate our behavior. I must apply God’s word to my daily life if I’m going to grow stronger and be fruitful.

We all have snakes and weeds to guard against that try to keep us from thriving.  We can bear good fruit or allow any old pest or plague to destroy us. Gods gives us each a choice.

I may never become a “master gardener,” yet I choose to give it all that I have and do the best that I can.  DSC_7135 (2)

What about you?

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5 NKJV